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Pope Leo XIV Returns to Castel Gandolfo for Summer Retreat

His return aims to bolster local tourism by reinvigorating economic activity after more than a decade of pope-free summers.

Father Tadeusz Rozmu walks in the San Tommaso da Villanova church of the town of Castel Gandolfo, a historic summer retreat for popes about 30 kilometers southeast of Rome, where Pope Leo XIV will be spending a short period of rest, is seen Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
FILE - Pope Leo XIV arrives in St. Peter's Square to hold his weekly general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
People walk in front of the Apostolic Palace in the central square of the town of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
A general view of the town of Castel Gandolfo overlooking Lake Albano, near Rome, where Pope Leo will spend two weeks of vacation in July, Italy, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV began his first papal summer visit to Castel Gandolfo on July 6, ending a 12-year hiatus after Pope Francis skipped the traditional retreat.
  • He is staying in a separate Vatican-owned residence, leaving the historic Apostolic Palace and its Renaissance gardens open to visitors as a museum.
  • The pontiff will keep a low profile for most of the two-week stay but will preside over public religious celebrations on July 13 and 20.
  • Local officials and business owners are preparing for increased tourist traffic and economic gains in the hill town, which has sweltered in temperatures above 37°C.
  • Castel Gandolfo’s centuries-old role as a cooler summer haven for popes highlights the symbolic revival of a longstanding Vatican tradition.